Have confidence without conceit and boldness without arrogance.
Without a doubt we need to approach life with a great level of confidence. There is more lost through timidity than is ever lost through overconfidence (my opinion). I think that experience bears this out. When it comes to leading a revival, a classroom, or a family you can’t be without confidence. The placement of our confidence is of major importance. If you place confidence in your own abilities you are going to be disappointed. Of course, the believer’s confidence should rest in the Lord. The book of Hebrews says, “Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward” (Heb. 10:35).
The trick, so to speak, is to have confidence without stepping over into conceit. There is a real temptation to begin to think that you are the reason that people are being touched. The arrogance that tries to attach itself to the success experienced when God moves is something to be avoided at all cost. Boldness yes, but never arrogance. Our confidence needs to be in the Lord. We should be quick to give Him the praise and the glory. We need to be able to direct people back to the Lord as the source of good things they received. Being quick to thank God when good things happen is a good way to stay out of arrogance and conceit.
